Beginning December 6, 2019 and continuing through January 1, 2020, local and state law enforcement officers will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints looking for motorists who may be driving while intoxicated. The Gloucester Township Police will be cracking down on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs as part of the annual end of year “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
The national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” effort endeavors to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving through a combination of high-visibility enforcement and public education. During the last five years New Jersey has experienced nearly 37,000 alcohol involved crashes resulting in more than 679 fatalities. Last year, 20% of all motor vehicle fatalities in New Jersey were alcohol-related. Just last year, 10,511 people died in drunk driving crashes across the nation. The societal cost associated with these crashes is estimated to be $44 billion annually.
We want to offer the following advice for the holiday season:
• Take mass transit, a taxicab, rideshare service or ask a sober friend to drive you home.
• Spend the night where the activity or party is held.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
• Always buckle-up, every ride. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
The timing of this initiative is even more important given it coincides with the holidays where we see an increase in traffic volume due to celebrations involving family and friends as well as numerous shopping trips to retail businesses. The Gloucester Township Police Department is committed to ensuring everyone gets to where they are going safely by enforcing aggressive driving behaviors and detecting and arresting those driving while under the influence. We want to reinforce the importance of safe driving behaviors in an effort to save a life or prevent a serious injury.
